The Plan

Sometimes I don't feel very princessesque.  Even worse, sometimes I don't want to feel very princessesque.  Seems this time of year, I want to just kind of snuggle in for the winter in some uniquely layered ensemble and not even leave the place.  I've gotten to enjoy two winters, not consecutively, of doing what I call wribernating.  Since humans can't actually hibernate, I enjoy doing the next best thing.  I love to snuggle in next to the fire, drink coffee all day and write, thus wri/bernate.



There isn't really a very long winter season in my neck o' the woods.  Still not frost yet, in late October and the planting season officially begins February 14th.  So at most, there's only about 3 1/2 months, I'm not tending a garden, and usually the kids start arriving mid January.  Through my short winter hiatus I, of course, do chores, spend time with Abba, and maintain my online responsibilities, but coming very soon is the season in which I just enjoy a less than casual appearance that is not really fit for polite society.

When I see the photos of the northern states, I realize this could be why YHWH didn't call me there.  When I knew He was calling me to relocate, at first I didn't know if it was Montana or Southern Missouri.  He very quickly made sure I understood, north was not the intended direction.  When I read some of the comments of the other contributors who are up north, I just shake my head and snuggle in a bit further.  I have not driven in snow since 2004!  I'm not bragging or complaining, just very, very thankful.

Since living agriculturally, winter for me has a time of introspection and planning implementation.  The longer I serve YHWH, the more I've come to realize the original plan is not mine, but His.  He does, however; expect me to use the gifts and talents He placed in me to bring the plan to fruition.  I spent this past Shabbat alone in very restful contemplation.  I thanked my Heavenly Father for many things, and I communed with Y'hshuwah, but it's their day off too!  I just felt I didn't need to be too chatty and I didn't need any reassurance that I belonged to Him.  It really was an interesting day of rest.

Next spring will be a very important planting season, in that it is "preparation year."   I had no idea what I was doing last Shemitah, agriculturally speaking, and there was the usual debate about which year it was, but this time, I'm not entertaining the confusion.  I feel I've been preparing for this preparation year since I moved from the smaller place to this one.  My heart's desire is to simply be where my Abba wants me in His plan, even if that means snowed in til March or no wribernating at all!

A Guest Princess

We are so delighted to feature a guest contributor, Nancy King, here in Peculiar Princess.  Nancy shares so eloquently, what it is to be the daughter of the King of the universe.

I Am…

He says, I am His…                             

Princess Ideas

I am learning the best ideas, of course come from our King.  I am also learning, the best ideas come when they will meet a need.  The King of the Universe is very efficient!  He doesn't need a huge inventory to work with.  I keep this continually in mind with my life and business.  There are some things in which inventory is required to be ready and other things made in advance will only be outdated and ineffective when the need arises.

As so many are considering a more independent and natural approach to life, I can share just a few ideas for an example.  Some, I've learned the hard way, but those are getting fewer and farther between.  Thank Adonai for that!  As a business woman I have two types of product, those that need "curing" time, but are virtually nonperishable.  Then there are the other products that are formulated fairly quickly, but have a relatively short shelf life.  That's right, it's both ends of the continuum with little between.

When it comes to living off the land, there is considerable planning involved to be successful, and it's rather meticulous at the beginning and the end product, but again in between it's just a matter of the time it takes.  I plan my garden spots in the fall, and the produce I plan to raise.  Some, are automatic, like the early stuff, but the amount of beans, number of tomatoes and peppers depends upon this year's harvest and how much I've preserved.  I don't need more than I can use and share, reasonably.  It's entirely too expensive to try to ship canning.  That's an "in person" kind of sharing.

So much of our society is now based upon instant and whim, that it seems peculiar to make plans beyond "the week-end," but the King of the Universe has a plan, on a grand scale and for each individual.  The first time I saw this "saying" it spoke volumes to me.  Now I won't get it verbatim, but the concept has stayed with me.

                           "Failure to plan, is the plan for failure"

Perpetual

As the daughter of The Eternal King, I'll always be a princess.  I'll never be a queen.  Besides, Queen Elizabeth has already been done . . . twice.  As I sat in my home this week-end, the matriarch of four generations, I pondered the unique circumstances of what it is to be the daughter of the King who will never die.  Of course, I could live to see more generations to follow me, but there is no more advanced title in the family of YHWH.
Joint heirs with Messiah for us females is to be a princess, whether we are 20 or 120.  As an "everlasting princess" I have a royal responsibility.  Which is to make sure the next generations know the Prince of Peace shed his royal blood that they too can be Peculiar Princesses!

I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy . . .

Down in my heart, down in my heart . . .

As I enjoyed the week of Sukkot, I kept hearing that song from childhood.  I live a rather silent existence, although my goats do communicate with me, and I know my dog Hank actually tries to talk.  That can be verified with the UPS driver, as he's noticed and commented as well.  Most of my regular human interaction is through the internet, so my verbal communication skills actually seem to be waning, or maybe it's the lesson of a lifetime in bridling my tongue.  It's much easier to look at words before hitting send than to try to regather them after they leave one's lips.

Every morning of Sukkot, I awoke to the sounds of nature and the awareness that this was a very special time.  The only thing missing this Sukkot, was an "in person" gathering.  I've attended those and hosted those in the past, but this year many of us "gathered by internet."  With laptops, smartphones, and Ipads may of us  "technoshipped" from our sukkah.  It was a time of celebrating and rejoicing.  I was happy for those who were enjoying gatherings in person and very thankful for the technology to share with so many of us who were sukkotin' solo!

As I spent time in the orchard or with the animals, I felt even more tuned into just how simple this life could be and how little we actually need to be content.  Please hear me, like most Americans, I've got plenty more than I need, but a week of "facilities" beyond where I was staying was a reminder of the conveniences we take for granted.  Also realizing, that although I am still pretty active and walking well, I do not have the physical agility or the balance to have participated in some of the sukkot gatherings I read about.

I like to think YHWH is preparing me, my verbal skills or absence thereof, and my physical capabilities or lack, for the gathering I'll participate in next year.  It's too early to make the plans, but knowing there are so many who ended up sukkotin' solo, we may just be able to gather next year together.  As I looked at the recipe for my traditional Sukkot Moussaka and the harvest of aubergine, I realized Moussaka for one just isn't a practical dish.  We'll see what transpires as the seasons change.

Sukkot is such a joyous celebration, culminating in Simchat Torah, which is Rejoicing in the Written Instructions.  The only sorrow I experienced was in realizing how quickly the week went.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A Business Decision

As I'm expanding my product line at Tribally Yours, I decided G-ma's Goatmilk Soap could use an expansion, as well.  A door into several communities has opened and this princess feels led to walk through them.  As this unfolds, I've discovered  that soap making is as calming as ironing is for me.  So much so, it's practically replaced it!

The second anniversary of my business venture was September 14, and although I've not made Procter and Gamble nervous; I've certainly learned a lot in the past two years and grown.  Fortunately, the products were good to begin with and the improvements have been really enjoyable, not only to me, but to customers and clientele.  I've learned about myself in this deal too.  I've learned where to take advice and where to just smile and say thank you.  I've truly enjoyed being able to offer a good and natural product, at a reasonable price.  I can't get over how much some "natural products" cost!

I'm all excited about two new products I'm designing.  Available soon will be a "winter care package" as well as a "gift basket for the new baby," but a new ministry opportunity is what really has me excited.  I'm going to be able to work with young people who don't have a great deal of support in their corner, so to speak.  I've come to a fuller understanding, Scripturally, when YHWH commands us to take care of the widows and fatherless.  Most of us consider the fatherless to be orphans, but that isn't necessarily the case, especially, here in our society.  There are a number of fatherless households, and many of them have very young, struggling mothers as the head.  

There is a need to offer young people some basic life skills and necessities.  Soap is one of those requested necessities, as well as sharing the fact that our Creator has given each of us a talent and a purpose.  So, I'm changing my inventory.  G-ma's Goatnilk Soap will still come in all the wonderful varieties, but the bars will be more uniform and bigger, while the ones that "don't make weight" are still good sized bars, and will serve to address this need in the community.

I don't mean to sound too strange here, but all of my soap recipes contain some olive oil, some more than others.  I pray as I formulate my products that the lives of the customers and clients these products touch, will be blessed.  The wrappers have Scripture and I stand on the promise that the Word of YHWH does not return void.  I believe this is going to be a wonderful blessing for young people who really feel they are overwhelmed before they are even getting started.

When I saw the "vision" of this program, I saw a great many opportunities and certainly some good intentions.  Good intentions for our youth, however; are not enough.  This community program needs the presence YHWH, and the young people certainly need His Son.   In the last verses of Matthew, Messiah said we were to, Go . . . and He'd be with us!

No, Never Alone

The Goshen Gazette is blessed to have Beth Rank included as one of our steadfast contributors.  I am blessed to call her, friend and sister.  The article she wrote this week, just seems so fitting to be featured in "The Peculiar Princess."  I hope and pray you enjoy this as much as I did.

No, Never Alone          by Beth Rank